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Home >> Pontiac >> 2006 >> Vibe AWD L4-1.8L VIN 8 >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Body and Frame >> Frame >> Cross-Member >> Service and Repair >> Crossmember Replacement - Rear Suspension

Crossmember Replacement - Rear Suspension



Crossmember Replacement - Rear Suspension

Removal Procedure


Important: If you are removing the rear suspension crossmember in order to gain access to other components, you may remove the following components together as a rear drive module:


* The rear suspension crossmember

* The differential carrier

* The differential support

* The rear wheel drive shafts

* The upper control arms

* The lower control arms

* The stabilizer shaft

* The knuckles

* The drum brakes

* The rear park brake cables



1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Remove the 2 rear tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
3. Remove the catalytic converter. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement (LV6 Engine) Catalytic Converter Replacement (LNK Engine) in Engine Exhaust.
4. Remove the propeller shaft. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement - Two Piece in Propeller Shaft.
5. Remove the left rear park brake cable from the equalizer. Refer to Park Brake Cable Replacement - Left Rear in Park Brake.
6. Remove the right rear park brake cable from the equalizer. Refer to Park Brake Cable Replacement - Right Rear in Park Brake.
7. If the vehicle has ABS, remove the 2 rear wheel speed sensors and pigtails. Refer to Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement - Rear (FWD) Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement - Rear (AWD) in Antilock Brake System.
8. Use containers in order to catch the brake fluid.
9. Remove the brake pipe from the left wheel cylinder.
10. Remove the brake pipe from the right wheel cylinder.




11. Remove the nut (4) and the bolt (5) in order to separate the left rear shock absorber from the lower control arm.
12. Remove the nut and the bolt in order to separate the right rear shock absorber from the lower control arm.




13. Remove the 3 bolts (1, 3, 4) in order to separate the front of the left rear lower control arm (2) from the body.
14. Remove the 3 bolts in order to separate the front of the right rear lower control arm from the body.
15. Place a jack under the differential support.




16. Remove the 2 bolts (3, 4) and the 2 nuts (1, 2) in order to separate the rear suspension crossmember and the rear drive module from the body.
17. Lower the rear drive module.

Important: If you are replacing components on the rear drive module, continue with this procedure.


18. Remove the stabilizer shaft links. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
19. Remove the stabilizer shaft. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Replacement (FWD) Stabilizer Shaft Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
20. Remove the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement in Drum Brakes.
21. Remove the brake shoes and the brake hardware. Refer to Brake Shoe Replacement (FWD) Brake Shoe Replacement (AWD) in Drum Brakes.
22. Remove the park brake cables. Refer to Park Brake Cable Replacement - Left Rear and Park Brake Cable Replacement - Right Rear in Park Brake.
23. Remove the backing plates and the knuckles. Refer to Knuckle Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
24. Remove the rear wheel drive shafts. Refer to Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Rear in Wheel Drive Shafts.
25. Remove the upper control arms. Refer to Upper Control Arm Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
26. Remove the lower control arms. Refer to Lower Control Arm Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
27. Remove the differential carrier and the support. Refer to Differential Carrier Assembly Replacement in Rear Drive Axle.



Installation Procedure

1. If you are replacing a control arm, copy the match marks from the old components to the new components.
2. Install the differential carrier and the support to the crossmember. Refer to Differential Carrier Assembly Replacement in Rear Drive Axle.





Important: Do not tighten the nuts or the bolts on the suspension components. The weight of the vehicle must be on the tire and wheel assemblies before tightening the nuts and the bolts.


3. Install the nut (1) and the bolt (3) in order to retain the left rear lower control arm to the crossmember.
4. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the right rear lower control arm to the crossmember.
5. Align the match marks and install the cam and the cam bolt and the left rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
6. Install the nut to the cam bolt on the left rear upper control arm.
7. Align the match marks and install the cam and the cam bolt and the right rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
8. Install the nut to the cam bolt on the right rear upper control arm.
9. Install the rear wheel drive shafts. Refer to Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Rear in Wheel Drive Shafts.
10. Install backing plates and the knuckles. Refer to Knuckle Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
11. Install the left rear park brake cable to the backing plate. Refer toPark Brake Cable Replacement - Left Rear in Park Brake.
12. Install the right rear park brake cable to the backing plate. Refer toPark Brake Cable Replacement - Right Rear in Park Brake.
13. Install the brake shoes and the brake hardware. Refer to Brake Shoe Replacement (FWD) Brake Shoe Replacement (AWD) in Drum Brakes.
14. Install the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement in Drum Brakes.
15. Install the stabilizer shaft. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Replacement (FWD) Stabilizer Shaft Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
16. Install the stabilizer shaft links. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement (AWD) in Rear Suspension.
17. Use a jack in order to raise the rear drive module.





Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Cautions and Notices.

18. Install the 2 nuts (1, 2) and the 2 bolts (3, 4) in order to retain the crossmember and the rear drive module to the body.

Tighten the nuts and the bolts to 105 N.m (77.4 lb ft).





19. Install the 3 bolts (1, 3, 4) in order to retain the front of the left rear lower control arm (2) to the body.

Tighten the bolts to 65 N.m (47.9 lb ft).

20. Install the 3 bolts in order to retain the front of the right rear lower control arm to the body.

Tighten the bolts to 65 N.m (47.9 lb ft).

21. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the left rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
22. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the right rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
23. Install the brake pipe to the left wheel cylinder.

Tighten the brake pipe fitting to 15 N.m (11.1 lb ft).

24. Install the brake pipe to the right wheel cylinder.

Tighten the brake pipe fitting to 15 N.m (11.1 lb ft).

25. If the vehicle has ABS, install the 2 rear wheel speed sensors and pigtails. Refer to Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement - Rear (FWD) Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement - Rear (AWD) in Antilock Brake System.
26. Install the left rear park brake cable to the equalizer. Refer to Park Brake Cable Replacement - Left Rear in Park Brake.
27. Install the right rear park brake cable to the equalizer. Refer to Park Brake Cable Replacement - Right Rear in Park Brake.
28. Install the propeller shaft. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement - Two Piece in Propeller Shaft.
29. Install the catalytic converter. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement (LV6 Engine) Catalytic Converter Replacement (LNK Engine) in Engine Exhaust.
30. Install the 2 rear tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
31. Lower the vehicle.
32. Bounce the rear of the vehicle in order to stabilize the suspension.

Important: The weight of the vehicle must be on the tire and wheel assemblies.


33. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the left rear upper control arm to the knuckle.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

34. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the right rear upper control arm to the knuckle.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

35. Align the match marks and tighten the nut and the cam bolt that retains the left rear upper control arm to the crossmember.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

36. Align the match marks and tighten the nut and the cam bolt that retains the right rear upper control arm to the crossmember.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).





37. Install the nut and the bolt (1) that retains the left rear lower control arm to the crossmember (2).

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

38. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the right rear lower control arm to the crossmember.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

39. Install the nut and the bolt on that retains the left rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 140 N.m (103.3 lb ft).

40. Install the nut and the bolt on that retains the right rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 140 N.m (103.3 lb ft).





41. Align the match marks (1, 2) and install the nut (3) and the bolt that retains the rear of the left rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

42. Align the match marks and install the nut and the bolt that retains the rear of the right rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).





43. Install the nut (1) and the bolt that retains the front of the left rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

44. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the front of the right rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N.m (54.6 lb ft).

45. Bleed the brake system. Refer to Hydraulic Brake System Bleeding in Hydraulic Brakes.
46. Measure the wheel alignment. Adjust if necessary. Refer to Measuring Wheel Alignment in Wheel Alignment.


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